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Eight People Killed, At Least 40 Injured In Storms and Tornadoes

December 24, 2015

(NEW YORK) — Eight people have been killed in storms and tornadoes across the South late Wednesday, with at least 40 more people injured, according to officials.

Amongst the dead was a 7-year-old boy and a second person, found as a result of a storm in Holly Springs, Mississippi, according to the mayor. No further details about the circumstances were immediately available. At least 15 people were injured there. Search and rescue efforts were to continue overnight, Mayor Kelvin Buck told ABC News.

Also killed were a husband and wife, both in their 60s and another 60-year old man, according to Benton County Sheriff’s Department.

Dramatic photos of the storm bearing down on Holly Springs emerged Wednesday night.

At least six counties reported damage in Mississippi, where at least 40 were reported injured, and search and rescues were being conducted there.

One of the storms, a reported tornado, hit Bellevue, Mississippi, damaging 10-15 homes, at least seven of which were destroyed, according to the Coahoma County Emergency Management.

Five injuries were reported there and two additional severe injuries were reported near Shannon Airport, in the Clarksdale, MS area, the department said.

In nearby Como, MS, at least two homes were damaged.

In Perry County, Tennessee, there are two confirmed fatalities.

In Wayne County, Tennessee, there was major structural damage to several buildings and homes in the area, but it was unclear how many, according to Wayne County Sheriff Ric Wilson. There were several injuries as well, he said.

In Atkins, Arkansas, police, fire and rescue officials were dispatched to a residence on an entrapment call. High winds and heavy rain had caused a large tree to uproot and fall onto a house. An 18-year-old woman and an 18-month toddler were inside. The toddler was extricated by emergency personnel and transported to an area hospital. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Some 68 million Americans were forecast to be in the path of the storms Wednesday night.

A “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch was issued from Monroe, Louisiana, to Jackson, Tennessee, meaning there was a good chance of long-track tornadoes.

In addition to Mississippi, severe storms were predicted for parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Alabama.